God the Father

“Such is the life of the saints, and all the misfortunes with which they are afflicted are nothing else than a pleasant and agreeable game with which God plays with us as a father plays with his children. At times a father orders them to do something which, as he knows, exceeds their strength, He commands his little son to fetch a pot, to pull off his socks. When the child, without realizing how weak he is, makes energetic efforts to carry out the order, the father lends a hand and praises the zeal and strength of his son, in order that the boy may gradually be aroused and accustomed to obedience and reciprocal love” (LW 7:319).